SERUM CYSTATIN C AS A BIOMARKER OF ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY IN PRE-ECLAMPTIC PATIENTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v22i1.1866Keywords:
Cystatin C, serum creatinine, preclampsiaAbstract
Background: Pre-eclampsia is a common multisystem disorder of pregnancy especially kidney damage. Cystatin C is a reliable marker to be used for kidney function. Objective of this study was to evaluate diagnostic accuracy of cystatin C in comparison of serum creatinine for the early diagnosis of acute kidney injury in patients of pre-eclampsia. Methods: This case control study was conducted in Department of Chemical Pathology of a tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi from Jun 2024 to Apr 2025. A sample size of 70 (35 patients, 35 controls) with 95% confidence interval was calculated with 1:1 case to control ratio using online WHO calculator. Simple consecutive sampling was used. Patients diagnosed with pre-eclampsia with >20 weeks of gestation were included according to the American Obstetric and Gynaecologists guidelines. Controls were healthy pregnant mothers of the same gestational duration. Five mL of blood was collected from each patient for estimation of random blood glucose, serum creatinine, uric acid, and cystatin C. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson’s correlation, t-test and ROC curve analysis. Results: Mean age of participants was 28.7±2.6 years. Mean gestational age was 29.1±2.8 weeks. Mean cystatin C value were higher among cases (0.830±0.28 mg/L) than controls (0.167±0.19 mg/L). Cystatin C had 88% sensitivity and 98% specificity. Serum creatinine and uric acid had much less sensitivity and specificity as compared to cystatin C. Conclusion: Serum cystatin C is an important biomarker that more accurately captures early renal impairment compared to conventional indicators.
Pak J Physiol 2026;22(1):3–5, DOI: https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v22i1.1866
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Copyright (c) 2026 Saqibah Rehman, Tariq, Asma Hayat, Ayesha Qamar, Sayeda Basma Bukhari, Saima Bashir

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